Shahdara Police arrested five who were running an alleged network to target shopkeepers in Shahdara.

New Delhi, March 5

The Delhi Police Shahdara District busted a gang of extortionists who allegedly posed as criminal from jail to extort money from shopkeepers and businessmen in Shahdara. 

The accused were identified as Anas Rehman (19), Farman Asghar Ali (25), Gulfam Alquamar of Maujpur, Shoiab Ali (22) of Jaffrabad and Nitin Jain of Shahdara. The main accused Munawar is currently on the run.   

The Shahdara police stated that the complainant who runs a shop at Babarpur Road reported that on March 2 at about 3:45 PM, he received a call from a number who identified himself as Salman from jail and demanded Rs. Five lakhs from him. At about 5:00 PM, two persons came on a motor cycle and riding a pillion rider, got down and fired towards the glass door of his shop. When he called the police control, the police upon reaching the spot found two empty cartridges. 

The police inquired with local shopkeepers and CCTV cameras on the route. During investigation the police found out few persons have formed a notorious gang for extortion of money from the shop keepers. There was a suspicion that locals from the area were also involved  Based on CCTV footages, analysis of CDR, information collected from local sources and multiple raids, the police nabbed two accused.  
The police further said that during the interrogation, Anas disclosed that his friend namely Shoib alias Amir introduced him with one Munnawar of Jaffrabad, who is involved in four different cases under heads of Arms Act, robbery and murder. He also told that a friend of Munawar namely Nitin Jain, who is also involved in five cases had given the information to Munawar regarding extortion of money from two shops of Babarpur Road Market.  

Munawar has procured a stolen mobile phone from a drug addict and he threatened many persons of area of Shahdara from mobile to extort money and he demanded five lakh rupees from the complainant. 

The police added that Munawar along with  Anas came on motorcycle bearing number DL4SBC8895 near shop of complainant and fired upon the shop. It is pertinent to mention here that the motorcycle used in the commission of offence was given to Munnawer by registered owner of motorcycle Number DL5SBM0772 and Munnawer had replaced with a fake number plate on this motorcycle. The registered owner of the above motorcycle is absconding. 

Munawar who was out on parole constituted a gang with above accused persons along with Nitin and started allegedly extorting money from the businessmen of vicinity. Nitin used to pass telephone numbers of the local businessmen. After the firing incident Munawar handed over his weapon to Amir and absconded. 

The police are hunting for Munawar.  The police seized one pistol, two live cartridges, one loaded desi katta and the motorbike used in the crime. The police also seized two other stolen vehicles from them.

The accused were wanted in six other cases of posessing illegal weapons and robbery in Shahdara, Jyoti Nagar and Karwal Nagar.